World Association of Cycling Events Launches from Rome

Six of the world’s top mass participation cycling events formed the World Association of Cycling Events (WACE) to promote and increase cycling worldwide.

WACE comprises six of the largest mass participation events in the world of cycling, including:

Cape Town Cycle Tour (South Africa), the world largest timed cycling event

TD Five Boro Bike Tour (USA), the only closed road mass participation cycling event in New York City with 32,000 participants

Vatternrundan (Sweden), one of the oldest and longest mass participation cycling event in the world with more than 6 million km ridden each year

L’Etape du Tour, (France) one of the most beautiful and toughest sportives in the world, ridden over a stage of the Tour de France

RideLondon (UK), the world largest festival of cycling with 95,000+ riders on traffic-free roads in London and Surrey

Granfondo Campagnolo Roma (Italy), a unique cycling experience in the historic Eternal City starting in front of the Colosseum

With more than 200,000 participants from 90 countries riding in WACE events each year, the new organization is ideally placed to inspire new riders to take up the challenge of cycling and to encourage riders to travel to participate in other world class cycling events. WACE announced its constitution Wednesday, Oct. 7, following a meeting in Rome, Italy.

“It is a very exciting time for cycling with such rapid growth in interest and participation,” said Hugh Brasher, President of WACE and Event Director for RideLondon. “We expect a number of other major international cycling events to join us to promote the many health and lifestyle benefits of cycling and to work together to promote the opportunity to ride in great cities around the world. WACE events are working with city leaders to get more people cycling to help address the global issues of pollution, overcrowding on public transport and public health.”

“We want everybody to participate in our events, not just serious riders,” said Matteo Gerevini, Executive Director of WACE. “Our events cover every aspect of cycling, from a ride in a city like New York to an incredibly tough experience in the French Alps.”

More major international cycling events are set to join WACE and the association is planning the creation of the “WACE Challenge” with awards to riders who take part in multiple WACE events around the world.

“Cycling is not only good for the rider, it’s good for the environment,” said New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio. “The City of New York is committed to a bike-friendly NYC, so that New Yorkers and visitors of all ages can explore the Big Apple while getting fresh air and great exercise. I am proud to join other global cities to promote safe and accessible biking for all.”

“All of us at Bike New York are thrilled and honored to be a charter member of WACE,” said Ken Podziba, President of Bike New York, which organizes the TD Five Boro Bike Tour, ”a prestigious coalition that includes six other like-minded organizations. “We look forward to working with the other members – all of which have put together truly stunning bike rides – to promote cycling as a healthy and sustainable mode of transportation and recreation. The TD Five Boro Bike Tour is a one-of-a-kind event, and it’s wonderful that as a result of the international reach of WACE, more cyclists from all over the globe will now get to learn about and discover this iconic New York City experience for themselves.”